I Have Arrived!

It's been a joke for the past several months that I am not listed on my husband's blogroll.  While he links to me frequently, and he is my biggest referral, I always wondered when I would get that last stamp of approval.

I am proud to say, I have arrived.  Wow.  Kinda feels like I've just been given an Oscar.

Thanks, Baby.  I won't take the honor lightly and will strive to live up to your recommendation. :-)

Threads

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to meet Ed Stetzer at the AG Michigan District Council.  (Thanks to Steve and Mary Beth for the invite!) I was really inspired and impressed by his talks about the nature of the church today and predictions for the years ahead.  I was also really blessed by the time he spent talking and listening to many of us at lunch, including lending an ear to me while I shared some of my thoughts and experiences about a quarterlife crisis.

I wrote down some of my thoughts and sent it into Threads, an online journal through LifeWay Resources, and they published it yesterday.  How very cool for God to redeem a difficult season in my life in such a great way!  If you get a chance, maybe read it and let me know what you think about the topic.  I'm feeling pretty passionate about finding a way for the church to speak to this, although I don't have many specifics as to how.  Any thoughts?

Last One!

Gotta make this quick, like a band-aid. 

My last bet post on . . . the Red Wings.

Things that are great about the Red Wings:

• They are a great blessing to the Swedish Olympic Hockey Team. 
• Their Red and White colors remind me of my elementary school days.  Go Eden Warriors!
• They have been innovative in their ways to celebrate with invertebrates.  (By the way, anyone who can explain the origins of the octopi on the ice thing would be my hero.)
• They have brought much joy to the city of Detroit, winning 10 Stanley Cups and 4 in the last 10 years alone.
• I'm coming up empty.  Maybe come to me in a few months when the wound is a little less fresh and I'll have some more.

Brad insists on editing this post, as he said there were some "inappropriate" comments in the last one (i.e. Chris Webber).  Sorry to all my Pittsburgh readers.  Remember it was a bet! :-)

Salty

Have you ever read something so much that you quit paying attention to what it says?  I had one of those moments earlier this week when I was reading a very familiar passage in Matthew 5.

I know this should not come as a shocker, but Jesus was completely brilliant in choosing salt and light as His analogy of what we're to be in this world.  I started thinking about some of the basic properties of salt:

• It is used to bring out flavors that already exist in a food.
• A little bit of it goes a long way.
• Too much of it can ruin a piece of food.
• Tasting it will make a person thirsty.
• If it is placed on a wound, it will sting a little, but it can also have healing properties.
• It is by its very nature salty.  If it tried to be any other flavor, or lost that property somehow, it's worthless.
• And I think this had even more meaning in a culture where salt was used as a valuable food preservative and currency.

It made me think twice about how many of these kind of qualities I'm living in my everyday interactions with people I know as well as complete strangers.  Am I being salty (no reference to the singing songbook)? :-)

Maize and Blue

I write this knowing it's going to cause some personal pain to my father and mother.  Sorry parents.  Remember this is a bet.

The Wolverines . . . my dad described them as our Big 10 "Big Brother Team."  (My parents attended and went to Penn State . . . JoPa has been bred into my subconscious.) They continually beat up on the Lions with no mercy, taunting them relentlessly.

So, here's my best take at things that are great about the University of Michigan Wolverines . . .

• They are the arch rival of Ohio State.  
• Perhaps they will prove that something good can come out of WVU.
• They got very Crayola-creative in their terminology for their team colors.  You may think it's gold, but no.  It's "maize."
• They have an amazing history of some great quarterbacks that have come out of their school.
• And, so as not to make it all about football, the infamous "time out" call by Chris Webber in the NCAA final has become one of my favorite all-time memories to bring up to my husband when he is taunting me about some sports team.

One more to go.  Gotta work up some emotional strength before that one.

They're Grrrrrrrreat!

Can you guess the team for the day?

Frosted Flakes.  Tony the TIGER.  Yeah, little bit of a reach.  Trying to take up space here . . .

Well clearly the best thing about the Tigers is their manager, Jim Leyland.  Jim was a part of the Pirates' glory days in the early 90s (I still hate the Atlanta Braves) and I've always had a fond place in my heart for him.

The Tigers have been struggling this year living up to their expectations, but they have great raw talent on their team.

Have I mentioned how much I love their team colors?

I'm really happy about the fact that the Tigers aren't the Atlanta Braves.

Yeah, now I'm really reaching.

I've really wanted to go to a Tigers game for the last year and a half.  Maybe then I could identify a little better with the team?  In the meantime, go Jim Leyland.  I think you're grrrrrrreat!

Brave New World

I subscribe to a really interesting daily newsletter called KidScreen Magazine.  I learned about it at a Children's Ministry Conference a few years ago and love the way it keeps me updated on new trends, products, and issues that are affecting kids and teenagers worldwide.

I read some really interesting articles in an issue the other day that gave some great insight to a generation that I'm not that far from in age, but in some ways are light years apart.

This first article talks about how Japan is actually looking at setting legal limits on child cell phone use.  It talks about how much kids are using their phones as mini-computers and how it could be detrimental to their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.  The second took another look at the virtual worlds that are so pervasive suggesting that they can be as normal as hanging out at the mall.  

What are some other thoughts on these trends?  How do you think it impacts church and ministry to these age groups and to ministry in general as they grow up?

How 'Bout Dem Lions

So I'm a little behind on the bet blogging.  Sorry Brad.

For my second choice, I am going to choose to write about the Lions.  It may come as a surprise to some that the Lions would be my second easiest team to write about (being the Steelers' fan that I am), but I've always had a thing for underdogs and I think it's pretty safe to say that the Lions are underdogs.

Here's some things that I think are great about the Lions:

• At the risk of being condemned for being repetitive, I like their team colors.  
• They think outside of the box, keeping people on their toes.  For example, who would've ever thought the Lions would choose Gosder Cherilus for their first round draft pick?  Pretty sure no one.  Crazy Lions.
• Their fans are a dichotomy of intense despair and hope.  They manage to pack out their games despite their previous records and histories.  And yet no matter what, there's still that little glimmer that, "There's always next year."
• They hosted the Super Bowl where the Steelers won.
• Jerome Bettis was probably a fan of the Lions at some time in his life.  

I really do hope the Lions have a good year and bring great joy to the city.  Now if they ever meet with the Steelers, well, I just won't go there in this post.

Ante Up

So, it seems as if the Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup.  They played a great series.  They were tough.  They earned it.

But I'm still sad.  

Contrary to any rumors that I heard about, I was rooting for the Pens, although I have to say I'm thrilled that Detroit gets some good news these days.

As a result of the Penguins' loss, I must uphold my end of the Leach Family wager . . . write 5 different blog posts about how great the different Detroit sports teams are.  Because I'd want Brad to be gracious if he lost (and watch Pride & Prejudice with an open-mind) I'm going to try and do this as honestly as possible.

I'm starting with the easiest for me . . . the Pistons.

I can honestly and quickly pursue being a Pistons fan without any divided loyalties.  And after my first official game, I have to say I'm hooked.  Here are some reasons why:

• I really like their team colors.  Bright blue and red.  Classy.
• They are my husband's favorite and I'm finding it's really great for our marriage when we're cheering for the same team. :-)
• They give you Thundersticks when you go to a game for free.  Who knew how much fun it could be to hit two plastic wands together?
• They have really fun cheers when you are there.  Deeeeee-troit . . . Basket-ball!!!!
• They are good with really passionate fans.  I have great respect for passionate fans.

I could go on, but Brad, is this good enough? :-) The week will only go uphill from here . . . :-)

New Bloggers!

Two new friends of mine have started blogs and I thought I'd pass them along.

Megan Colabrese, one of the bridesmaids in my wedding and one of my oldest and dearest friends, has started a blog called Life Abundant.  Megan is on full-time staff with the Navigators at Penn State University and I've been waiting a long time for her to share her many insights with so many others on the web.

Annie Maines is my sister's, sister-in-law, so we refer to her as my "sister in the family."  Pretty good, huh? :-) She has just recently started a blog called Freeboard and I'm excited to keep up with her many exploits and insights there.

Yay for new bloggers. :-)